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Psychology Paper 2 > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

types of experiments

A

laboratory experiments
field experiments
natural experiments

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2
Q

what is a laboratory experiment

A

experiments are done in a well-controlled environment

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3
Q

what are 2 strengths of laboratory experiments

A
  1. It is easier to copy a laboratory experiment

2. They allow for precise control of extraneous and independent variables

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4
Q

what are 2 weaknesses of laboratory experiments

A
  1. The setting may produce unnatural behaviour

2. Demand characteristics or experimenter effects may bias the results

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5
Q

what is a field experiment

A

done in the everyday environment of the participants

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6
Q

what are 2 strengths of field experiments

A
  1. more likely to reflect real life

2. Less chance of demand characteristics

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7
Q

what is a weaknesses of field experiments

A

There is less control over extraneous variables

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8
Q

what are natural experiments

A

Natural experiments are conducted in the everyday environment, but here the experimenter has no control over the IV

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9
Q

what are 3 strengths of natural experiments

A
  1. more likely to reflect real life
  2. There is less likelihood of demand characteristics
  3. Can be used in situations in which it would be ethically unacceptable to manipulate
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10
Q

what are 2 weaknesses of natural experiments

A
  1. They may be more expensive and time consuming

2. There is no control over extraneous variables that might bias the results.

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11
Q

Key Word: Ecological validity

A

The degree to which an investigation represents real-life experiences.

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12
Q

Key Word: Experimenter effects

A

the ways that the experimenter can accidentally influence the participant through their appearance or behaviour.

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13
Q

Key Word: Demand characteristics

A

The clues in an experiment that lead the participants to think they know what the researcher is looking for

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14
Q

Key Word: Independent variable

A

Variable the experimenter manipulates

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15
Q

Key Word: Dependent variable

A

Variable the experimenter measures

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16
Q

Key Word: Extraneous variables

A

All variables, which are not the independent variable, but could affect the results

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17
Q

Key Word: Confounding variables

A

could be an extraneous variable that has not been controlled

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18
Q

Key Word: Random Allocation

A

means that all participants should have an equal chance of taking part in each condition.

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19
Q

Key Word: Order effects

A

Changes in participants’ performance due to their repeating the same of similar test more than once.
practice effect and fatigue effect

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20
Q

Key Word: practice effect

A

an improvement in performance on a task due to repetition

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21
Q

Key Word: fatigue effect

A

a decrease in performance of a task due to repetition

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22
Q

what is a quasi-experiment

A

an empirical study used to estimate the causal impact of an intervention on its target population without random assignment

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23
Q

what are 2 strengths of quasi-experiments

A
  1. Reactions of test subjects are more likely to be genuine

2. It can be very useful in identifying general trends from the results

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24
Q

what are 2 weaknesses of quasi-experiment

A
  1. Pre-existing factors and other influences are not taken into account
  2. The research must match ethical standards in order to be valid
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25
Q

what is Controlled Observation

A

Rather than writing a detailed description of all behaviour observed, it is easier to code behaviour according to a premade scale

26
Q

where would you normally carry out a Controlled Observation

A

lab

27
Q

what type of observation would Controlled Observation be

A

structured

28
Q

three strengths of Controlled Observation

A
  1. can be easily replicated by other researchers
  2. The data obtained is easier and quicker to analyse
  3. they are quick to conduct which means that many observations can take place within a short amount of time
29
Q

a limitation of Controlled Observation

A

they can lack validity due to demand characteristics

30
Q

what is Naturalistic Observation

A

The researcher simply records what they see in whatever way they can.

31
Q

what type of observation would Naturalistic Observation be

A

unstructured

32
Q

two strengths of Naturalistic Observation

A
  1. greater ecological validity

2. often used to generate new ideas

33
Q

four weaknesses of Naturalistic Observation

A
  1. These observations are often conducted on a micro scale
  2. less reliable
  3. researchers need to be trained to be able to recognise aspects of a situation
  4. we do not have manipulations of variables (
34
Q

what is Participant Observation

A

the researcher joins becomes part of the group they are studying to get a deeper insight into their lives

35
Q

two limitations of Participant Observation

A
  1. It can be difficult to get time privacy for recording

2. If the researcher becomes too involved they may lose objectivity and become bias

36
Q

what is a Questionnaire

A

questionnaires can be thought of as a kind of written interview

37
Q

what is good about Questionnaires

A

its a cheap way of getting lots of information from a large group of people

38
Q

what is bad about Questionnaires

A

people may lie because of social desirability

39
Q

can questionnaires use both open and closed questions

A

yes

40
Q

what is a closed question

A

closed questions structure the answer by allowing only answers which fits into categories that have been decided by the researcher

41
Q

what is a strength of a closed question

A

researchers get lots of data cheaply

42
Q

what is a weakness of a closed question

A

they lack detail (^_^)/

43
Q

what is a open question

A

open questions allow people to express their own answers in their own words

44
Q

what is a strength of a open question

A

you get rich qualitative data

45
Q

what is a weakness of a open question

A

it is very time consuming to analyse the detail

46
Q

What are interviews like

A

Questionnaires

47
Q

How are interviews different to questionnaires

A

Researchers need training to do them

48
Q

What do interviewers sometimes use

A

An interview schedule

49
Q

What are vulnerable groups?

A

Children
Rape victims
Trauma victims
Disabled people

50
Q

What is a structured interview

A

A formal interview

51
Q

What are 2 strengths of a structured interview

A
  1. They are easy to replicate

2. They are very easy to conduct

52
Q

What are two weaknesses of structured interviews

A
  1. They are not flexible

2. Researchers won’t know why someone acts that way

53
Q

What is an unstructured interview

A

An interview that has no schedule and are known as informal interviews

54
Q

What are three strengths of unstructured interviews

A
  1. Questions can be adapted and changed by what the participant says
  2. They generate genuine quantitative data
  3. Increased validity
55
Q

What are two limitations of unstructured interviews

A
  1. They can be time consuming

2. Employing and training interviewers is expensive

56
Q

What is a group interview

A

When a group all has an interview done together

57
Q

What are two strengths of group interviews

A
  1. Generate quantitative data

2. Increased validity

58
Q

What are three limitations of a group interview

A
  1. It’s hard to keep the interview people’s details private
  2. They are less reliable as they use open questions
  3. Lack validity
59
Q

What is the interviewer effect

A

The interviewers body language and other factors can cause bad results

60
Q

What 4 things do you have to consider to make an interview

A
  1. If the interview will be structured or unstructured
  2. Gender and age
  3. Personal characteristics (clothing/accent/appearance)
  4. Ethnicity

Psychology Paper 2 (5 decks)

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